Anthony and Jen walked outside to the porch and sat on the swing, watching the lightening bugs dance in the darkness of the night; she snuggled close to him and reminded him of the nights on the lake.
She looked up at him, thinking about their past and posed a question, "Who's cabin was that we spent so much time in?"
"It belonged to my family. In fact, that whole place was part of our property. I guess that's why they used it every year."
She popped him on the shoulder, "You knew, and you wouldn't tell me?"
"Did it really matter?"
"No, I was always afraid we would get caught."
"We did anyway."
"I know." she sounded sad.
"If we would have gone back to the cabin that night, I don't think they would have found us." He looked down at her, "I'm sorry baby, it tore me apart when that happened."
"We were kids, young and newly in love, we didn't know when, or if, we'd get caught, just took that chance every time we were together." her eyes glistened in the darkness, "I think that was part of what made it so fun."
"No, what made it fun was being with you." he ran his fingers down her cheek, stopping at her chin, bringing his lips to caress hers, "I love you Jeana."
"I never stopped loving you Tony."
"Don't, don't ever stop."
Their kiss became heavy and they clung to each other. Little did they know that they had an audience watching them from the other end of the porch. All four kids enjoyed seeing how happy their mother was, and Tony, he was really glad to have a dad.
Anthony slowed the kiss and held her close, "do you think it's too early to go to bed?"
She looked at him, mischievous intent crossed her lips when she smiled. "It's after midnight, what do you think?"
He stood up and took her hand, helping her to her feet and they slowing walked inside and up the stairs. The kids giggled and Anna made bets on who would scream first, Tony scolding them for their lack of couth. Still, in the back of his mind, he was wondering why it took so long for his dad to take his mom to bed.
Jen was a bit nervous, it had been a long time since they had been together, seen each other naked, and now, life had left its marks on her body, and she wondered about his. It didn't really matter, all that matted was that her was there. She didn't even care if they made love, all she cared about was that he was there with her.
"Jen, do you mind if I take a shower?"
"No, I could really use one myself."
He pulled her to him, "Then join me?"
She blushed, "go ahead and get in, I'll be there shortly." she kissed him and pulled away.
He went on to the shower and she pulled down the sheets and fluffed the pillows on the bed.
Jen took off her clothes and looked at herself in the full-length mirror by the closet, wondering about her body. After four kids, she was a larger woman now, her double D's drooped due to her age, the scar under her right breast from a surgery was prominent, so was the scar from her tubal.
She felt her heart fall and tears well as she looked at herself closer. Up until this point, she never felt bad about herself, but suddenly, she wished she was the young girl who Anthony once knew. She swallowed hard and turned away from her image, slipping under the covers, more tears rolling down her cheeks.
Anthony came from the shower wrapped in a towel, finding her in the bed. He slipped the towel off and under the sheets spooning next to her. "Baby, what's wrong?" he whispered, stroking her hair back so he could see her in the soft light of the room.
"I'm not pretty anymore. I'm not the same girl you knew twenty-four years ago. I'm ugly!" she hastily murmured through tears.
"What are you talking about? You are as beautiful as the first night I kissed you. Well, you kissed me." he pulled her over to face him, "baby, I don't care that you've changed, because what matters is what hasn't changed." he traced a finger in a heart pattern over her chest. "I love you, I never stopped. I wouldn't be here if I didn't." He propped up on an elbow, "I don't care what you've been though, well, I do, I mean, what matters is now, us, our future." he slowly kissed her cheek, working his way to her lips.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to be who I was with you before."
"You are, and so much more baby."
Their kiss deepened and he found himself wrapped around her, moving between her legs, his stiffness brushing her damp softness.
She spread herself, inviting him, wanting him, just like the last night they made love on the lakeside. It was slow and methodical as he pushed his length into her, nuzzling her neck, kissing her shoulders, whispering to her.
She moaned softly into his ear while she pushed her hips up to meet him, her wetness devouring his strength after so long. It felt good to have him with her, inside her, around her. He groaned into her neck, nipping at it as he pushed deep inside her glistening walls of heat and acceptance.
Her hands clasped his shoulder and back as she arched to meet him, a heated gush of liquid escaping her body and engulfing his. She felt him stiffen, his breath quickened, and he brought himself up to look at her, his eyes penetrating her to her heart and soul, like always.
"Jen, baby, I love you." he breathed in-between his accelerated strokes.
"Anthony." her gasping whisper floated softly to echo in his mind.
Their strokes met as one and it was pushing them both to the edge, many years of love and desire building up to a climax that they needed, wanted. "I love you Jen, I love you."
"I love you Anthony, so long, so many years." she dug into him with both her body and hands, he wrapped around her and ground in deeply with one last thrust, ejecting many pent up years of love, loss, and desire for her, deep into her body. He softly thrust, milking himself dry inside of her until his limpness fell from her body.
Anthony still lay wrapped around her, pushing her hair away, kissing her lightly, and rolled her with him as he went to his side. She snuggled into him, burying herself against his chest and shoulder. He thought about their past, what had transpired over the last three weeks, the day, and the last few hours.
"Jeana?" he spoke, thinking she was asleep.
"Yes Anthony?"
"I just wanted to make sure this was real." he brushed her cheek with his lips and laid his head back into the pillows. Sleep took them both as they rested securely wrapped in each other, both knowing they hadn't felt this way since their last night together.
Tony stopped at the door, easing it open, Anna behind him, as he peered in to see them sleeping.
"Do you think momma's happy Tony?"
